As U.S. and South Korea train, North Korea flexes

This week, the United States and its South Korean ally begin their annual Foal Eagle joint-military exercise, the largest ever, encompassing more than 17,000 U.S. soldiers and more than 300,000 South Korean soldiers, a figure more than double those of previous years, according to South Korean military officials.

During the weekend ahead of these long-planned exercises, the North Koreans threatened a “pre-emptive and offensive nuclear strike” as a response to what they believe are “undisguised nuclear-war drills aimed to infringe upon the sovereignty of the DPRK.”

These threats by the North Korean government are as regular as the annual daylight saving “spring forward” that heralds the upcoming spring season.

In addition to this annual posturing between the Koreans, North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, announced the latest technological advance in their ongoing march toward world domination: the miniaturization of nuclear warheads. South Korea dismissed this latest statement as just another outrageous claim by the DPRK. Washington officials concur, though the DoD alerted U.S. ballistic missile defenses to prepare for the unlikely event that Kim Jong-un was being truthful. Along those lines, the U.S. has deployed three B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia to provide “consistent and credible air power” across the region.

Since assuming power, Kim Jong-un has become more and more outspoken, even unstable, in his statements and threats. Earlier this year, the DPRK state press agency, the KCNA, announced a successful detonation of a miniaturized hydrogen bomb. Of course, this was immediately disputed by experts around the world, as the resulting blast was entirely too small.

As 2016 is an election year for the U.S., and one many consider decisive for the nation’s future, perhaps this has something to do with the DPRK’s increased anti-Western rhetoric. What’s disconcerting is how little we know about North Korea’s newest “dear leader,” with only bits and pieces coming out of the peninsula and much of it from unreliable sources such as the KCNA or basketball bad-boy Dennis Rodman. Side note, I have nothing but great memories of Rodman as an avid Bulls fan, however, how about staying on the shallow side of the foreign-policy pool, Dennis?

Speculation abounds as to what lies in store for future North Korean/U.S. relations in the coming months and years. Moreover, as we count down the months until we open a brand new executive administration in 2017, the choices we face as to who’s at the helm of our foreign-policy ship are becoming increasingly scary with every new sound bite by Trump and allegation against Clinton. What’s the number of that doomsday prepper bunker builder again? Might need to get that going as the ground thaws up here in the great white Chicago north.

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About the Author

Jaeson "Doc" Parsons
Born in Chicago & raised in the shadow of the Chicago Board of Trade, Jaeson spent nearly 15 years in the world of global finance. After the 9/11 triggered an overwhelming sense of duty & he left the markets and joined the Army. Enlisting as a combat medic, Jaeson earned the honor of ‘Doc’ on the streets of Ramadi. Doc was honorably discharged and while attending WVU, he started the Graffiti of War Project - www.GraffitiofWar.com, a project documenting the unique artwork created by service members & civilians in conflict zones. The ultimate purpose being to use the book to raise awareness for veterans & service members afflicted with PTSD & TBI, and promoting arts therapy as an alternative solution. Doc's work and odd musings have been published in Maxim and Business Insider as well as featured via outlets such as Fox News, Wired Magazine, Stars & Stripes, Time.com and others.

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Dark1202

North Korea is like that one guy who shows up at the gym and thinks he can tap everyone because he's on steroids.
Then he gets his ass kicked and goes home and cries.

Jaeson "Doc" Parsons

HAHAHAHAHA! Volcomhcky, you are hilarious and right on! I absolutely agree their nuclear rhetoric is insurance to them against what they feel is an imminent invasion threat, let's just hope they don't suddenly begin believing they see hordes of RoK transports on the horizon throwing us into Korean War 2.0. Unlikely but so was the thought of a President Trump which seems more likely by the day. Who knows what 2017 has in store for us but I have a nagging feeling I will never want for material to write about.
~Doc

Yankee Papa

Meanwhile the North Korean government is uber-screwing its citizens:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/north-koreans-can-either-work-70-days-straight-or-pay-to-take-a-day-off/ar-AAgKmvs?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=mailsignout
http://www.asianews.it/files/img/COREA_DEL_NORD_-_0924_-_Razioni.png
-Yankee Papa-

Volcomhcky69

Another great write up, Doc.
I think it's going to come down to whether or not Tubby Despot III is truly unstable, or if he's playing some ratcheted up version of the game his Grandfather, Tubby Despot I, and his Father, Tubby Despot II, played with great success to secure foreign aide concessions.
Or, whether or not TD III can walk back his rhetoric without weakening himself at home. The executions of top officials since his ascent to power speaks volumes, in my opinion. His uncle, whom was widely considered the 2nd most powerful man in NK, was extremely close to the Chinese government, which was likely seen as a threat. I think the Kims decided that a nuclear bomb was the only real insurance card they had against any/all aggression, and would pursue it at all costs. This likely didn't sit well with those connected to China (as China doesn't want their unpredictable buffer state to be armed with nuclear weapons), which is why the Kims would need to purge those close with China to ensure the Chinese couldn't pull a military coup.
Even Russia told NK to knock off the rhetoric of threatening everyone with nuclear weapons, as they were giving other nations justification to launch a pre-emptive strike on the North. When Russia calls out your propaganda rhetoric because it's gone too far, you know you've stepped wayyyyy over the line...